A Parks Department employee in charge of overseeing green spaces in Queens, including Juniper Valley Park, has been charged with sexually abusing an underage relative.

Rene Herrera, 57, was charged with three counts of sexual abuse of a family member. The abuse occurred five years ago when the alleged victim was just 11 years old. The mother of the girl, now 16, told police about the alleged abuse on December 28.

According to a criminal complaint, the abuse occurred on three separate occasions between October 2008 and September 2009.

Herrera lives in Woodhaven and is married with three children. He has been with the Parks Department for approximately 25 years, and oversees Parks property in Community Boards 5 and 6.

CB5 chair Vincent Arcuri said he remembered Herrera from back when he was first assigned to work in Juniper Valley Park years ago.

“They loved him at Juniper,” Arcuri said. “You just never know what’s in anyone’s past so this is a shame.”

Zachary Feder, a spokesperson with the Parks Department responded, saying that, “Herrera has been suspended without pay.”